Thermoplastic label applier



March 5, 1940.

E. L. KALLANDER THERMOPLASTI C LABEL APPLIER Filed Aug. 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A Ms.

March 5, 1940.

E. L. KALLANDER THERMOPLASTIC LABEL APPLIER` Filed Aug. 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dm. QM..

Patented Mar. s, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,192,234 THERMOPLASTIC LAB/EL APPLIER Ernest' L. xauanaer, Framingham, Mass., as'- signor to Dennison Manufacturing Company,

Framingham, Maas., chuaetts a corporation of Massa- Application August 27, 1938, Serial No. 227,077

6Claims.

'I'his invention relates to appliers for aihxing thermoplastic labels, that is stamps or other labels having a. coating oraohesive material" which isl normally dry but which becomes tacky 5 when heated.

Objects of the invention areto provide an appller which is light and portable, which can be operated with one hand, and with which a label may be picked up, heated sufliciently to become tacky and then pressed against the article to which it is to be applied, all without the hand Vcoming into direct contact with `,the label, and generally to facilitate the application of thermoplastic labels.

According to the present invention the applier comprises a head having a surface, preferably at or only slightly curved, for pressing a label against the article to be labeled, together with suction or other means operative through one 20, or more openings 4in the aforesaid surface for holding -the label against thesurface while the label is4 heated and applied. The heat is preferably applied to the label by the aforesaid head, either by heating the head from an external ing medium within the head. The suction means may be actuated by two relatively movable parts, at least one of which comprises a handle and in the preferred embodiments both parts constitute a handle. Means is preferably provided yieldingly to urge said parts apart when the grip on said handle is relaxed; and this means may comprise either a part of the suction means or a part in addition thereto or both. The suction means 35. may comprise a bellows in'said head, a rubber syringe-like device between said handles, or other expansible chamber conveniently actuated by the hand in which the applier is held.

For the purpose ofillustration typical embodi- `ments of the invention are. shown inthe accompanying drawings` in which n Figs. 1 and-2 are side and rearelevations of one embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a sectionbn line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

another embodiment; and

Rg. 6 is a bottom plan view of the latter eml bodiment. l i

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a head including a hollow casting I and a cover 2 secured to the hollow casting by means of screws 3 extendingl through openings in the part 2 and threaded into bosses l inside the part I. As shown in Fig. 1 the bottom surface 5 of the casting I iscurved from source before contacting the label or by a heatf Figs. 4 and 51arel front and side elevations of front to rear and as shown in Fig. 2 this surface is fiat from side to side. At the center of the bottom wall of the casting I an opening 6 extends vertically throughthe wall. The cover 2 is formed in upper and lower portions integrally interconnected by four posts 1 which are hollow and which are internally threaded to receive the screws 8. In the hollow casting I is mounted an electric heater S'which is supplied with current through a cable I0.

Mounted on the top of the cover 2, by means of two of the four screws 8, is a plate II having an upstanding' pivot lug I2 and an upstanding tubular portion I3 aligned with the opening 8- in the casting I. A Bakelite tube I4 is fitted into 15 the tubular part I3 and extends downwardly through openings in the two portions of the cover 2 to the opening 6. A collapsible rubber bag I5 communicates with the tube I4 through a single opening in its lower end which tightly ts around the upstanding tubular portion I3 of the plate I II. A handle comprising two parts I1 and I8 serves to compress the rubber bag I5 when the handle is gripped. The part Il'is mounted on a strap I9 having pivot lugs 20 pivotally mounted on vthe lug I2 by means of a pin 2|. The part y I8 is mounted on top of the cover 2 by a strap 22 having its lower end secured totthe cover by the other two of the four screws 8. At-lthe upper end the two straps I9 and 22 are bent outwardly and interconnected by a spring 24 which flexes upwardly when the two parts of the handle are squeezed together. When the grip on the handle is'relaxed the spring 24 assists the rubber bag I5 in moving the handles apart, thereby to draw air inwardly through the opening 8. l y In use the ldevice is connected to a suitable source f current, and, after the head isheatedy to the desired temperature, a label is picked up and amxed in the following manner.- Before picking up the label the handles are squeezed together. The device is then positioned over a label lying on a at surface with the opening 6 above the label. The handle is then vrelaxed somewhat to hold the label against thehead by suction. The label is then transferred to and pressed again the surface to which it is to be ailixed, the hot head softening the adhesive on the lower surface of the label. As the label is pressed against the surface to which it is to be afiixed the device may be rocked back and forth on the curved surface 5 more effectively to secure the label throughout', its entire surface. 'I'he handle is preferably squeezed again as the device 55 corresponding to the opening 6 in the rst embodiment. Mounted in the hollow head is a bellows 31 having an opening in its bottom communicating with the opening 36. Mounted between the bellows 31 and the bottom 33 is an electric heater 38 supplied with current through. a cord 39, the heater having a central opening 40 in line with the opening 36. Thebellows and the heater are separated with a layer o`f insulation 4l. Each of the four sides of the head is protected with a layer of mica 42. In the lefthand side of the head (Fig. is mounted an electrical connection panel 43 of insulating material. Openings 45 are provided in each of the four sides of the head for the purpose of ventilation.

Mounted on top of the head member 30 is a handle comprising two metallic straps 46 and 41, the latter being pivoted to the head at 48, and two grip pieces 49 fastened to the straps 46 and 41. The bellows 31 is interconnected with the upper ends of the handle through a lug 50 on top of the bellows, a link 5| pivoted to the lug 50, a rod 52 threaded into the link 5I, another link 53 threaded upon the upper end of the rod 52 and two links 54 and 55 pivotally interconnecting the upper end of the link 53 with the two parts of the handle. The opposite ends of rod 52 are preferably threaded in opposite directions so that the effective length of the rod may be varied by rotating the rod after the parts are assembled. A spring 56 serves not only to control the relative position of the two parts of the handle but also to cover the links 54 and 55. The spring 56 may either assist or oppose the spring action of the 'bellows or it may assist throughout a portion of closure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A label applier comprising a head having a surface for pressing a label against an article to be labeled, said surface having an opening therein, a handle rigidly connected to said head approximately perpendicular to said surface, and suction means associated with said handle for drawing air inwardly through said opening, thereby to pick up a label on said surface for application to an article.

2. A label applier comprising a head having a surface for pressing a label` against an article to be labeled, said surface having an opening therein, suction means for drawing air inwardly through said opening to pick up a label on said surface for application to an article, and two relatively movable handle parts for actuating said suction means, at least one of said handle parts being rigidly attachedto said head.

3. A label applier' comprising a head having a surface for pressing alabel against an article to be labeled, said surface having an opening therein, a handle for said head, the handle comprising two parts movable toward each other when gripped in the hand, and suction means associated with said handle for drawing air inwardly through said opening to pick up a label on said surface for application to an article, said suction means including means yieldingly urging said parts apart.

4. A label applier comprising 'a head having a surface for pressing a label against an article to be labeled, said surface having an opening therein, a handle for said head, suction means in said head for drawing air inwardly through said opening to pick up a label on said surface for application to an article, and means associated with said handle for actuating said suction means.

5. A label applier comprising a head having a surface for pressing a label against an article to be labeled, said surface having an opening therein, suction means for drawing air inwardly through said opening to pick up a label onsaid surface for application to an article, and two relatively movable parts for actuating said suction means, at least one of said parts comprising a handle for said head and said means including an expansible chamber between said two parts.

6. A label applier comprising a head having a surface for pressing a label against an article to be labeled, said surface having an opening therein, a handle for said head, the handle comprising two parts movable toward each other when gripped in the hand, suction means in said head for drawing air inwardly through said opening to pick up a label on said surface for application to an article, and toggle mechanism kinematically interconnecting said means with said parts.

ERNEST L. i KALLANDER. 

